Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 16 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Kyler Murray, Jakobi Meyers, Breece Hall, Brenton Strange, more

December 21, 2024

Scott Engel shares fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 16 (2024). He features key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 16 fantasy football lineup decisions.

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to the fantasy football playoffs and our Week 16 article highlighting key starters and tough calls. Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights are a highlighted weekly feature on RotoBaller.com for the 2024 fantasy football season. Every week, he zooms in on players to go with as starting options when you are dealing with close lineup decisions.

The lineup picks included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount and access his player rankings in all formats. Plus, you will unlock a full menu of tools and analysis for fantasy football playoff usage.

When considering the players included here for lineups, also consult our staff fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other possible starters. The skill position analysis is tied to Scott’s Week 16 PPR rankings.

Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 16

Update: I am always looking to improve the Lineup Rankings, and have started to progressively incorporate more research into the process. Vegas odds are now strongly considered along with more data from 3rd party sources. The rankings are now optimized for even better possible results for the fantasy playoffs.

Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

Overthinking lineup decisions in the fantasy playoffs can lead to losing decisions. That is the danger with benching Mixon for a much lesser option in Week 16. Yes, the Chiefs are the top-ranked defense in allowing Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs, but Mixon has averaged the second-most FFPG among RBs this season, only behind Saquon Barkley.

Benching Mixon for Rhamondre Stevenson or Ameer Abdullah is a panicky type of move that can backfire and increase the chances of your team being eliminated in Week 16. The defense does not always win the matchup, as evidenced by Mixon’s 17 points against the Lions in Week 10. Detroit has been among the top units in allowing FFPG to RBs all season.

Mixon is off the injury report and is arguably delivering the best season of his career. I do lower him to RB2 status because of the matchup, but sitting him would be an overreaction. Play your best players when attempting to advance to a fantasy Super Bowl.

Mixon is the type of RB who is capable of overcoming a challenging matchup to produce quality fantasy totals. The Texans will lean on Mixon to keep them in the game and expect him to run hard.

Breece Hall, New York Jets

RB Breece Hall (knee) is not even on the injury report this week. “He’s rolling,” says Ulbrich, who says Hall looked very good all week in practice. #Jets

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) December 20, 2024

The Jets’ RB is off the injury report, so fantasy players should feel more comfortable about starting him as an RB2 this week. Over the past four weeks, the Rams rank 27^th in FFPG allowed to RBs. Rams-Jets may be a higher-scoring affair, as both passing games should move the ball well. Hall will be positioned to finish off a scoring drive with a TD run, and you can expect him to post at least adequate fantasy totals.

Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

He is defying the critics, coming off three consecutive 100-yard games. The Buccaneers, however, rank first in FFPG allowed to RBs over the past four weeks. Lingering critics of the Dallas RB will all point to him posting good numbers in very exploitable matchups.

While Dowdle did need to perform well in those matchups to prove he is a respectable RB, the Buccaneers are rolling and present a tougher draw. Dowdle has earned fantasy RB2 status, but he doesn’t crack the top 15 this week.

I would not start Dowdle over Hall or Rachaad White, yet I would give him the nod over shaky or mediocre options such as Isiah Pacheco or Rhamondre Stevenson.

NFL Week 16 - More Fantasy Football RB Insights

• If you haven’t noticed, White is up to nine TDs from scrimmage. Both Tampa Bay RBs are startable against Dallas. White is ranked just outside of the top 15.
• Jerome Ford faces the Bengals, who have allowed the most FFPG to RBs over the past four weeks. Obviously, the QB change might bog the Brown offense down more, but Ford is versatile and dependable. He will play a large role on offense in any game script. Ford is a top-20 RB for Week 16.
• Kenneth Walker III can score from anywhere on the field at any time. But Minnesota’s run defense ranks first in the NFC, and the inconsistent and problematic Seattle offensive line faces a major challenge. Walker’s yardage numbers might be disappointing, so he is ranked outside of the top 20.
• Pacheco doesn’t quite look like himself yet, and fantasy players cannot start him with much confidence right now. But he should be the goal-line back for a Chiefs team that can move the ball effectively enough to give him a few shots at short-yardage TD runs. The offense he is in gives Pacheco the edge over RBs such as Kendre Miller and Stevenson.
• Miller should get a healthy amount of carries, but he will need a TD run to elevate his totals, and there is a danger that he gets scripted out of the offensive flow against the Packers.  Volume can be in Miller’s favor, though, with enough to put him inside the top 25.
• Patrick Taylor Jr. is a complete unknown as a pro runner. He is a power back who will likely function as a short-yardage TD runner for a 49ers offense that might bounce back this week. What Taylor’s workload will look like is uncertain, though, so don’t start him over an RB with a more established role.
• Abdullah is a nifty play against the Jaguars, who rank 30^th in FFOG allowed to RBs. He is a tempting flex option, but don’t overrate the impact of the matchup to start him over a guy who has been a more dependable option for most of the season. Abdullah has flashed recently, yet he also has a long track record of being mediocre or insignificant for fantasy purposes.

Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 16

DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

DK Metcalf had his least productive game of the season vs. Green Bay (three catches, three targets, 28 yards).

Even knowing all the defensive attention Metcalf commands, and how that frees up others, OC Ryan Grubb said: "It pissed me off that I couldn’t get him the ball more." pic.twitter.com/S1fluQxH3s

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 20, 2024

Metcalf is frustrating fantasy players, as he did not finish as a top-25 fantasy WR in the past five weeks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is heavily benefiting from the defensive attention Metcalf commands. The six-year veteran, however, is still the main focus of defensive game plans and gets a good matchup to take advantage of this week.

Minnesota allows the most FFPG to WRs, and Ryan Grubb expressed a strong desire to get Metcalf rolling this week. Rain and wind could complicate the passing outlook, but the Seahawks are used to such conditions. Metcalf will have an upside for Week 16 unless the weather dramatically dampens the outlook.

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

Meyers could be a difference-maker who boosts your team to a fantasy Super Bowl appearance this week. I actually rank him inside the top 20 this week, ahead of Zay Flowers, Smith-Njigba, and Terry McLaurin.

Meyers was targeted 45 times in the last four games and now gets a matchup where he will make the most of his opportunities. Jacksonville allows the third-most FFPG to WRs this season.

The Raiders’ top pass-catcher might finish as a top 5 fantasy WR this week. In any tight lineup decisions involving Meyers and another WR3 type, he should unquestionably be started over the other option.

Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The rookie is taking over the Chris Godwin role in impressive fashion. He finished with 18-plus PPR points in each of the last two games, with a total of three TD receptions.

Dallas ranks 29^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, and the Tampa Bay offense is clicking right now. McMillan is a must-start fantasy WR3 this week, and he is another unique lineup pick that can help you earn a fantasy Super Bowl berth.

NFL Week 16 - More Fantasy Football WR Insights

The Falcons are a consistently good matchup for WRs in fantasy football. Malik Nabers will be targeted frequently and might finish with PPR totals at least in the mid-teens.

• Drake London has not been an upside performer this season and will be working with a rookie making his first NFL start. The Giants are very banged up on defense, though, and a young passer will know who his go-to guy is. Expect a solid statistical line from London as a fantasy WR2.
• Terry McLaurin takes on the Eagles, who rank first in FFPG allowed to WRs. The Commanders may come to play harder this time against Philadelphia, and McLaurin should be an important performer if Washington remains competitive. While he doesn’t crack my top 20 WRs this week because of the matchup, I am not recommending sitting McLaurin over most fantasy WR3 types.
• Cooper Kupp will put a catch-less performance behind him. The Jets rank 28^th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the last four weeks. Kupp should post good enough totals to merit his top-25 ranking this week.
• Jordan Addison is ranked at the end of my fantasy WR3 range. I expect Seattle to bounce back on defense, and the Minnesota offense will run through Aaron Jones, Justin Jefferson, and T.J. Hockenson. The Seahawks’ secondary is capable of limiting Addison’s production.
• Marvin Harrison Jr. faces Carolina, but he has been a disappointment throughout the year to this point. The Arizona rookie finished as a top-15 fantasy WR once in his last six games. He has no statistical floor in any matchup. The Panthers actually rank 16^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, so Harrison is ranked just outside the top 30 at WR. He always carries some potential upside, but the results haven’t been there on a consistent basis.

Quarterbacks And Tight Ends – Fantasy Football Week 16

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray is 3-1 in outdoor games with a kickoff temperature at or below 45 degrees in his career ❄️

Murray has 8 TDs to 2 turnovers and a 103.5 passer rating in such games https://t.co/aKOcj30Zzj pic.twitter.com/Z96A7sNwwn

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) December 19, 2024

Many fantasy leaguers drafted Murray as a projected promising QB1 this year. The results have been discouraging, and while the Arizona QB takes on the Panthers this week, it’s hard to put a lot of faith in him in any matchup right now. He finished as a top 10 fantasy QB twice in his last seven games.

Carolina ranks 37^th in FFPG allowed to QBs, so Murray does carry some starting appeal for this week. Like Harrison, the floor might be shaky. The rushing upside is always there, though, and he is ranked as my No. 10 QB for the week, ahead of Jayden Daniels, Sam Darnold, and Tus Tagovailoa.

NFL Week 16 - More Fantasy Football QB Insights

Don’t steer away from Jared Goff in cold conditions at Chicago. The Detroit offense will get the job done in any environment. … Brock Purdy can rebound at Miami, as the weather held him down last week. … Jayden Daniels gets the obvious tough draw against the Eagles, so I rank him outside the top 10. … San Darnold is not a QB1, as the running game might lead the way at Seattle.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strange showed brief glimpses of potential earlier this season and then busted out for a career-high 11 receptions last week. Las Vegas ranks 29^th in receptions allowed to TEs this season. Mac Jones moved the ball well enough against an overrated, yet still respectable Jets defense last week, and Strange was one of his primary reads.

Unless you roster another surefire top TE, Strange should be started this week. At the most unreliable position in fantasy football, ride with the flashes of statistical promise and the good matchup.

NFL Week 16 - More Fantasy Football TE Insights

Kansas City is a regularly good matchup for opposing TEs. Dalton Schultz is a quality streamer. … New England ranks 30^th in FFPG allowed to TEs over the last four weeks. You should get respectable numbers out of Dalton Kincaid. … Tampa Bay ranks 27^th in FFPG allowed to TEs. Jake Ferguson is a top 10 fantasy TE for Week 16.

More Fantasy Football Analysis